Machine for coupling drive-chain links



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. N. B. FASSETT. MACHINE FOR GOUPLING DRIVE CHAIN LINKS. No. 524,964. Patented Aug. 21, 1894.

llllllll I f: .N IEN@ 44%@ WW/w (No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. N. B. FASSETT.

MACHINE FOR GOUPLING DRIVE CHAIN LINKS. No. 524,964. Patented Aug. 21, 1894.

THE wams Pmns co.. mom-umn WASHINGTON o c 'l UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\NEI.SON B. FASSETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHI FOR vCQUPLING DlRlVE-CHAIN .LlNKS.`

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 524,964, dated August 21, 1894:.I

Apnan0n1eupri11t139s. Seann). 470.388. (Numan.)

. ling Drive-Chain Links, of which the following is a specification. This invention has ing together the separate links of detachable drive chains, which shall be much cheaper of construction and more simple and direct in its operation than any of those now in use.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front eleva-` \tion of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow V, in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a top view looking endwise downwardly'into the link channel, as represented in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan of the chain links and their relation to the chain channel. Fig. 6 is a partial View ofv a section taken in the line y, y, of Fig. 5, or in the line .'12, of Fig. 2.

At the present time there are to my knowledge but two kinds of machines for coupling or uniting the cast links of drive chains so as to form the completed chain. In both ot these the link channel is arranged at an incline and the links pass down endwise. In one, the chain channel is arranged directly under the linkchannel and in the other the link channel is arranged at `one side of itl, so

that the links are bodily moved sidewise. In, both, however, the links move on their sides and endwise, and in neither of them do they move edgewise.` In my present machine, however, the link channel is preferably arranged in a vertical position, the links move down it edgewise,the chain channel is arranged so-that the links move along it on their edges, the last link in thel chain chan-` nel is moved so that its hook is under the edge of the link channel, which contains the for its object the con.-` struction of a machine for coupling or unit-` to chine and those which have been heretofore used, will be fully understood from a study of the drawings and the detailed description of my invention. l' y In the specification, Aindicates the driving wheel; B the main shaft, journaled at c and d.

F, is a sprocket wheel pivoted at h.

j is a friction roller by which the sprocket wheel is rotated. v

le is a double crankshaft having an oscillating crank, la at one end, and a thimble coupling crank, k, at the other.

. L is a connecting bar connecting the thiml ble, m, with the crank n of the main shaft B.

O and P are link and chain channels, respectively.

q is the link coupler or link coupling bar. 'i r is a chain link occupying the lower-most link space in the link channel.

rfis the rst link above it, and the one which is to be next pushed downward into coupling with the hook of the lower link fr after the latter has been drawn around the -fulcrum corner into the chain channel bythe sprocket wheel F. l

s is the fulcrum corner above mentioned.

t in Fig. l is a spring arm attached at its upper end to the link channel standard,'and is curved inwardlythrough it at its lower end,its purpose being to press against the hook end of the link so as to prevent that end from any tendency to drop down by its own weight, and thus cause a possible cramping of the plain end bar in the hook link with whichit is being coupled.

u is a coiled spring to keep the lower end of the link coupler q always drawn toward the linkV channel, so that on` its downward thrust it will engage with the lower side bar of the second link r up in the link channel,

`and cause the coupling of it with the last link in the chain channel.

The hook of the last linkV subserves the purpose of a link guide for the plain end bar of the interlocking link on its downward passage, the interior hook and the plain end bars tion of the link channel which contains the 2 t p' 5.24,:965E

plain end bars of the loose links, and that the chain 'channel is horizontal and the link channel vertical, and that the plain end banof each link is always parallel with the link channel. The links are coupled together while one of them is yet lying wholly within the link channel, and is never pushed sidewise from it, but always thrust endwise of the 4link channel to interlock with the link setting up edgewise in the chain channel to. receive it; the link coupler being arranged above or over the link channel and movin-g endwise of it, the links being themselves thrust in the direction of their cross barslongitndinally through the hooks of the link `with which they are being coupled.l While this machine is therefore an "endwise couplling machine, the coupling of lin-ks that go together sidewise is effected.

The sprocket wheel VF is made with `wide sprockets, so as to 'nearly or 4quite till lengthwise the central opening of the links. The -stud or friction roller j is made fast Ato the crank wheel e, and is carried 'around 4by "the driving shaft B. At `each revolution of this "shaft the rol'l'erj'e'nters'successivelyfthespace between thesproc-k'ets, and causes the-wheel to advance-in -the direction of tthe larrow 'Le' fa distance between two sprockets, or the length of konelin-k of the chain, as shown. By this simple arrangementof the wheel F, Acrank wheel e and 'roller j, the assembled chain Ais carried along intermittently 1in the .bled into a chain.

the 'combination of a feed-'chute adap'tedto ref ceivev uncoupled links, a guide-way adapted to receive coupled links when in an edgewise position, and located in thesame plane as the end bars of the uncoupled links in the feedchute, and means for advancing the coupled links along the guide way substantially as de' scribed.

2. In a machine for coupling'chaiu links, the combination of a feed-chute adapted to receive uncoupled links, and a guide-Way in a plane at right'angles to the longitudinal plane of the feed-chute adapted to receive coupled links when in an edgewise position, the inte- 'ri'or'of the "hook of the last coupled link in the guide-way being directly under the end bar of the next uncoup'l'ed link inthe feeds/chute,

and fmeans for advancing' the coupled links `alonig the #guide way substantially as described. l Y

3. In "a-machine for coupling chain links, the combination ofafeed-'chuteadapted'to receive uncoupled/links, a guide-waylin aplane at right angles to -the longitudinal planefof the f'eedfchute and at anacute'a'ngle tothe transverse plane off-the feedlchutelandladaptcd to receive coupled links when inian 'edgewise ljposition, and means for `advancing thefcou'pled links along't-he guide 'waysubstantially asdescribed.

14. In a miachi'n'efor coupling 'chain links, the combinationoffa f'eedlchute adapted to receive vnn'coupled links, a fulcrum corner, a

guide-way adapted -to receive coupledlinks when in an edgewis'e position, and .located in the'sam'e plane .as the end bars of the uncoupled links in the feed-chute, and means for advancing the vcoupled links along the guide way subs'tantiallyas described.

5. Ina machine for coupling 'chain links,

:the combinationrof a feedchuteada-pted to re- 

